How to obtain a driving licence in Flanders?

You will need a category B driving licence to drive a car or a van. You must pass a theory test, follow a period of training with or without a supervisor next to you in the car, and pass a practical test. When you have had your driving licence for 6 months, you must follow a course on safe driving.

Find out how you can obtain a category B driving licence.

Category A1 driving licence

For:

• motorcycles with a:
  • cylinder capacity of maximum 125cc
  • power output of maximum 11 kW
  • power/weight ratio of less than 0.1 kW/kg
• tricycles with a:
  • power output of maximum 15 kW
  • cylinder capacity of at least 50cc or speed of at least 45 km/h

Minimum age:

• for the theory test: 17 years and 9 months
• for the practical test: 18 years

Category A2 driving licence

For motorcycles with a:

• power output of maximum 35 kW
• power/weight ratio of less than 0.2 kW/kg

Minimum age:

• for the theory test: 19 years and 9 months
• for the practical test: 20 years

Category A driving licence

For:

• motorcycles with a power output of at least 35 kW
• tricycles with a power output of at least 15 kW

MinimUm age:

• for the theory test: 23 years and 9 months
• for the practical test: 24 years

Theory test

To prepare yourself for the test, you may either study the material yourself or take theory lessons at a recognised driving school. The theory test consists of 50 multiple choice questions. You must score a minimum of 41 out of 50 to pass.

Driving tuition and provisional driving licence

After the theory test you must follow 12 hours of driving tuition at a recognised driving school or 9 hours of driving tuition and a practice period of at least 1 month with a provisional driving licence. To obtain a provisional driving licence, you must first pass the practical test on a private site. Your provisional driving licence is valid for 12 months.

Practical test

The practical test consists of:

• 10 manoeuvres on a private site
• a driving test on the public road.

If you pass, you will receive an 'Application for a driving licence' which allows you to collect your driving licence from your local council. Your electronic driving licence is valid for 10 years. You do not need to take any new tests to renew it.

Cost price

• Full test: 37 euros
• Test on a private site: 14 euros
• Test on the public road: 31 euros
• Examiner's following motorcycle: 19 euros.

For:

• speed pedelecs (fast e-bikes up to 45 km/hour) with a:
  • cylinder capacity of maximum 50cc and a maximum net power output of 4 kW (internal combustion)
  • maximum continuous rated power of 4 kW (electric motor)
• two-wheeled mopeds with a:
  • cylinder capacity of maximum 50cc (internal combustion)
  • maximum continuous rated power of 4 kW (electric motor)
• three-wheeled mopeds and light quadricycles weighing a maximum of 350 kg with a:
  • cylinder capacity of maximum 50cc (electrical ignition)
  • maximum net power output of 4 kW (internal combustion)
  • maximum continuous rated power of 4 kW (electric motor)

Minimum age:

• for the theory test: 15 years and 9 months
• for the practical test: 16 years

Theory test

To prepare yourself for the test, you may either study the material yourself or take theory lessons at a recognised driving school. The theory test consists of 40 multiple choice questions. You must score a minimum of 33 out of 40 to pass.

Driving tuition

After the theory test you must follow 4 hours of driving tuition at a recognised driving school.

Practical test

The practical test consists of:

• a test in which you demonstrate that you know the controls of your vehicle
• 4 manoeuvres.

If you pass, you will receive an 'Application for a driving licence' which allows you to collect your driving licence from your local council. Your electronic driving licence is valid for 10 years. You do not need to take any new tests to renew it.

The practical test costs 10 euros.

For:

• trucks (category C driving licence)
• buses (category D driving licence)
• coaches (category D driving licence)

Minimum age:

• for the theory test: 18 years
• for the practical test:

Do you work in commercial transport as a bus or truck driver? Then you will have to take the practical test with professional competence. If you pass, you will receive 'Code 95' on your driving licence as proof of your competence to drive a bus or truck.

Theory test

To prepare yourself for the test, you may either study the material on your own, take theory lessons at a recognised driving school or, as a professional driver, follow the 1-day basic qualification course at a recognised driving school.

The theory test without proof of professional competence consists of 50 multiple choice questions. You must score a minimum of 41 out of 50 to pass.

The theory test with proof of professional competence consists of:

• 100 multiple choice questions (you must score 80/100)
• 8 case studies (you must score 32/40)
• an oral test (you must score 80/100).

Driving tuition and provisional driving licence

If you pass the theory test you must undergo a compulsory medical examination. An ophthalmologist and a doctor will check whether you are fit and healthy enough to drive your vehicle safely. If that is the case, you will receive a driving aptitude certificate. You can then start the driving tuition:

• Either you follow at least 8 hours of tuition at a recognised driving school.
• Or you choose 1 or 2 supervisors and practise for at least 1 month with a provisional driving licence.

You can apply for your provisional driving licence from your local council by means of the document 'Application for a provisional driving licence' which you receive from the test centre as well as the driving aptitude certificate. The provisional driving licence is valid for 12 months.

Practical test

Driving licence without certificate of professional competence:

• 4 basic manoeuvres on a private site
• driving test on the public road of minimum 45 minutes

Driving licence with certificate of professional competence:

• 4 basic manoeuvres on a private site
• basic qualification test
• driving test on the public road of minimum 90 minutes

If you pass, you will receive an 'Application for a driving licence' and, if you pass the professional competence certificate, a 'Basic qualification certificate' which allows you to collect your driving licence from your local council. Your electronic driving licence and certificate of professional competence are valid for 5 years.

You do not need to take any new tests to renew your driving licence. To renew your certificate of professional competence, you must follow 35 hours of refresher training at a recognised training centre.

Cost

Without professional competence:

• full practical test: 53 euros
• driving test on the public road: 44 euros

With professional competence:

• manoeuvres: 56 euros
• basic qualification test: 63 euros
• driving test on the public road: 147 euros
• manoeuvres + basic qualification test:
  • 84 euros for category C, C1, D and D1 driving licences
  • 99 euros for category CE, C1E, DE and D1E driving licences.

For agricultural and forestry vehicles and their trailers and for vehicles registered as agricultural equipment, motorised cultivator or mowing machine that drive at least 30 km/h.

Minimum age

• for the theory test: 15 years and 9 months
• for the practical test: 16 years

Theory test

To prepare yourself for the test, you may either study the material yourself or take minimum 6 hours of theory lessons at a recognised driving school, agricultural school or agricultural training centre. The theory test consists of 40 multiple choice questions. You must score a minimum of 33 out of 40 to pass.

Driving tuition

If you pass the theory test, you will learn how to drive your agricultural or forestry vehicle yourself or you will follow 8 hours of driving tuition at a recognised driving school, agricultural school or agricultural training centre.

Practical test

The practical test consists of:

• 4 manoeuvres on a private site
• a driving test on the public road.

You may choose where you take the test: at a test centre, recognised driving school, agricultural school or agricultural training centre.

If you pass, you will receive an 'Application for a driving licence' which allows you to collect your driving licence from your local council. Your electronic driving licence is valid indefinitely and only in Belgium.

What if you have not reached the age of 18? Then you are issued with a driving licence with ‘Code 205’, which indicates that you are only allowed to drive tractors with a maximum permissible mass of 20,000 kg. This restriction expires automatically as soon as you turn 18. You do not have to apply for a new driving licence at that time.

Cost

At a test centre:

• full test: 47 euros
• test on the public road: 39 euros

At a driving school or agricultural school:

• full test: 68 euros
• test on the public road: 60 euros.